The Lady and The Lion
Welcome, and a warm first hello to the newcomers!
I’m so happy you’re here.
The theme of this week’s poetry collection is the Strength card, which often shows an illustration of a woman in easy communion with a lion. You can find my previous post around the theme of Strength here:
Currently, I’m finding communion with my own set of lions. Life brings challenges that are equally terrifying and ordinary:
You know, the usual.
Contents:
Troll
More Time
Use and Fashion
Background music: “Pro Re Nata” by The Lizzy Co Show, a song I’m writing to capture the feeling of a panic attack, both before and after the meds kick in.
Troll If you enter my home to strike a match, You’ll find yourself inside a hurricane, High winds surrounding you. Your weave is snatched, But, I don’t understand just why you came. I live up in the clouds, you’re under-bridge. I don’t care to answer your questions-three. A drive-by ain’t a showing of courage, It’s just something people do to be mean. I’m steady in the rain, but, it’s so nice When I don’t have to wear such heavy gear Just to live in the world and shine so bright, Protected from the hatred and the fear. Trolls might be born from loneliness and pain, But, I won’t be a plaything in their game.
More Time Because my dad died of a heart attack, The nights when I get acid creeping high Are fearful moments, torture on the rack. (The question, always: is today my time?) He exercised, body healthy and brisk: He was active his whole tour on this earth, But, early blade of fate slipped through his ribs, And, now, he rests inside forgiving dirt. He was the one who ran around with me, Who threw balls and played goalie and clapped hands With delight when he saw his girl achieve, Then, hugged me tight when life had other plans. The world deserved more time with my sweet dad. He loved to see others finding their path.
Use and Fashion I am not others’ actions, I’m response. My character lies in how I return The energy, how long I take a pause Before I find a bridge, then make it burn. I’m not bitter poison, I’m neutral ground. I’m clear-ish water, trying to stay so. The path I took, it traveled all around: A thousand stops on my journey to grow. I gained a hard-won five-second delay On what words I let fly out of my mouth. My tender bones learned how to pace the day. My muscles gained perspective: they chilled out. Because I answer for all my actions, I will not value use below fashion.
Please consider a small donation to my fundraiser to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
I will be walking to raise funds for AFSP this October to celebrate both my birthday and my continued existence on this earth after multiple attempts on my own life. I am now healthy and strong enough to walk, so I walk.
Please click below to share the link or contribute to my fundraiser:
I keep returning to this stanza:
"I’m not bitter poison, I’m neutral ground.
I’m clear-ish water, trying to stay so.
The path I took, it traveled all around:
A thousand stops on my journey to grow. "
I really like this concept of writing poetry based on a tarot card. Such a great idea generator 😄 and of course the music is fun too.